Do you want to see a return of State of Origin and if so, when?

[Claret]

This hasn't been done for a while.

Thoughts?

[goswannie14]

No, to great a risk of players getting injured.

I really don't care which state is better/has the better footballers, as long as the Swans are winning.

[hammo]

State of Origin became redundant when the competition went national.

[Claret]

Originally posted by hammo
State of Origin became redundant when the competition went national.

That explains why State of Origin Rugby League has been so unpopular ever since the Broncos entered the comp in 1988.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Claret
That explains why State of Origin Rugby League has been so unpopular ever since the Broncos entered the comp in 1988.

Despite it's name the NRL is not a national competition. Teams from one state plus two from Qld, one from the ACT,one from Melb and one from NZ does not make it a national competition. Hence the popularity of SOO in Rugby League.

BTW I still fell the AFL has a way to go before being a truly national competition, it is almost there but still needs a couple more teams from states other than Victoria.

[Claret]

Originally posted by goswannie14
Despite it's name the NRL is not a national competition. Teams from one state plus two from Qld, one from the ACT,one from Melb and one from NZ does not make it a national competition. Hence the popularity of SOO in Rugby League.

I'm not arguing the fact that Rugby League is a national competition. Of course it's not.

The argument was put forward by hammo that ever since the AFL went national (ie. we have state versus state every week) we have no need for a State of Origin series. Every week we have matches that covers all the States of Origin. Fair enough - that's his opinion.

It just doesn't explain why Rugby League State of Origin is so successful when they have Qld vs NSW every week in the NRL, which also happens to cover all 2 of the State of Origin playing states.

[Sanecow]

I'm all for SOO that doesn't involve a retarded "Allies" team.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by Claret
I'm not arguing the fact that Rugby League is a national competition. Of course it's not.

The argument was put forward by hammo that ever since the AFL went national (ie. we have state versus state every week) we have no need for a State of Origin series. Every week we have matches that covers all the States of Origin. Fair enough - that's his opinion.

It just doesn't explain why Rugby League State of Origin is so successful when they have Qld vs NSW every week in the NRL, which also happens to cover all 2 of the State of Origin playing states.

The strange thing is that NRL has small weekly attendances, but huge SOO attendances, whereas the AFL has good club attendances weekly, but SOO lost it's appeal after a few years (and possibly when the NRL picked it up).

[ScottH]

Originally posted by goswannie14
The strange thing is that NRL has small weekly attendances, but huge SOO attendances, whereas the AFL has good club attendances weekly, but SOO lost it's appeal after a few years (and possibly when the NRL picked it up).

The NRL are also playing for a spot in the national team. The AFL are playing for a, I forget.

[Claret]

Originally posted by ScottH
The NRL are also playing for a spot in the national team. The AFL are playing for a, I forget.

In theory, yes.

However, ask any League player and they would happily trade a Kangaroos jersey and a wad of cash for a place in an Origin team. Origin is the pinnacle in the sport.

May take another 20 years of Australian Rules Football State of Origin before it is viewed in such light. And that's being generous.

[hammo]

Originally posted by Claret


The argument was put forward by hammo that ever since the AFL went national (ie. we have state versus state every week) we have no need for a State of Origin series. Every week we have matches that covers all the States of Origin. Fair enough - that's his opinion.

I am not precisely sure why it works in league and not AFL but here are a few guesses:

* NRL is just 2 states NSW vs QLD whereas AFL has many states and the only established rivalry is VIC vs SA - this was strongest when the VFL and SANFL were up against each other and rich VFL clubs were poaching SA players.

* The club competition is the pinnacle in AFL whereas in NRL State of Origin is. It's a bit like the chicken and egg but SOO saved league in the 80s and has been established ever since. The AFL club comp just gets bigger.

* Local derbies have filled the voide of SOO in AFL. For SA fans, their biggest game is Crows vs Port, WA has W/C vs Freo and Vic fans have rivalries every second week. The NRL has messed with their competition so much that there are hardly any traditional rivalries left, making SOO the big one.

SOO would never be able to replace a Western Derby or Showdown hence why IMO it will never return.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by Claret
That explains why State of Origin Rugby League has been so unpopular ever since the Broncos entered the comp in 1988.

You cannot compare the Queensland State of Origin team & set up with that in the AFL. Most AFL fans are ferociously attached to their respective clubs & players. Their states mean little to them, as they are more interested in their own club.

Rugby League State of Origin in Queensland is very very important to them as a state. It is almost a way of proving their worth as a collective people; that they are good enough to beat the uppity people from the big smoke & then rub their noses in it whilst they are there. The Broncos don't get the same response out of their apathetic plastic supporters, of which many are mainly tv watchers or big game bandwagon-jumpers.

NRL fans are not brought up on the week-in week-out ritual of going to games like we are. They see Origin as a step up from the normal NRL stuff they watch. As an AFL fan, I don't see State of Origin as anything better than what we have, and apart from chuckling when the arrogant Vics lose I can't say I really care much any more. Even cheering on NSW doesn't really do it for me much to be honest. And the Allies, pullease!

I prefer the International Rules to Origin. State of Origin in Australia has unfortunately gone the way of the drop kick and long fence banners. It is a thing from the past. Only a few nostalgic South Australians would really care these days any.

JF

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by hammo
I am not precisely sure why it works in league and not AFL but here are a few guesses:

* NRL is just 2 states NSW vs QLD whereas AFL has many states and the only established rivalry is VIC vs SA - this was strongest when the VFL and SANFL were up against each other and rich VFL clubs were poaching SA players.

That's partially correct, but the Sandgropers were also part of the mix, so it has always been a three way rivalry. Before SOO it was interstate games with the state where you were playing as being the team you played for, that was interspersed with the "Club championships" were the premiers from the three states played a carnival. These came to an abrupt end after Mal Brown went berzerk and flattened about 3 or 4 Carlton players in 30 seconds in the final one year.

[Norris Lurker]

There are plans for a one-off State of Origin in 2008. Mainly because it's an exceptionally early Easter that year, and the AFL want to schedule an opening round Easter Monday blockbuster but to do that would leave an extra week in the season.

Will it work? I doubt it. Expect an epidemic of dubious injuries that force most of the top players to pull out. And anyone with even the slightest niggle would sit out of an Origin game rather than miss a club game.
Totally different to the NRL, where players selected for the Origin game are forced to sit out of their club's game the week before to attend a training camp. That would be unthinkable in AFL.

[Damien]

Originally posted by Norris Lurker
There are plans for a one-off State of Origin in 2008. Mainly because it's an exceptionally early Easter that year, and the AFL want to schedule an opening round Easter Monday blockbuster but to do that would leave an extra week in the season.

Will it work? I doubt it. Expect an epidemic of dubious injuries that force most of the top players to pull out. And anyone with even the slightest niggle would sit out of an Origin game rather than miss a club game.
Totally different to the NRL, where players selected for the Origin game are forced to sit out of their club's game the week before to attend a training camp. That would be unthinkable in AFL.

Might work, they are celebrating 150 years of football next year, so it all depends on how it is marketed I guess and whether the best players see it as a once off opportunity.